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Kiwis look for improvement in one-dayer with Sri Lanka

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori wants a vastly improved performance from his inexperienced bowling attack in today's one-day match against Sri Lanka.

The tourists cantered to an easy seven wicket victory in the opening match in Napier on Thursday, overhauling New Zealand's 285-8 with 10 overs to spare.

Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya did most of the damage, smashing 111 runs from just 82 balls against a wayward attack missing most of New Zealand's front line bowlers.

Vettori, who is replacing regular captain Stephen Fleming for the first two one-dayers in the five match series, told reporters yesterday that New Zealand's bowling attack needed to get the basics right.

"The bowling plan is the same, it's just about the implementation, which we let slip in Napier," he said.

"Sri Lanka bat down to seven and eight, so you've got to take wickets at the top and try not to buy those wickets, which we tended to do in the first game," he said.

Another hurdle for the home side could be the loss of experienced batsman Nathan Astle, who suffered bad a bruise to his thigh, although he had 83 runs in the series opener.

After a shaky start, Astle grew in confidence and controlled the tempo of the New Zealand innings, passing the milestone of 7,000 one day international runs before being run out.

"If we lose that experience and we lose that form, it's going to mean someone is going to have to step up to cover it," Vettori said.

James Marshall, who was out first ball in Napier, is likely to step into Astle's opening spot if the 35-year-old is ruled unfit to play in Queenstown.

In contrast to New Zealand's decision to rest some top players such as Fleming and star pace bowler Shane Bond for the early matches, Sri Lanka wants its top combination together for the leadup to March's World Cup.
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